Game 4 of the Minnesota Timberwolves-Los Angeles Lakers series was fantastic.
Especially offensively with Minnesota’s Anthony Edwards and Julius Randle and Los Angeles’ Luka Doncic and LeBron James combining for 133 points – 43 from Edwards, 25 from Randle, 38 from Doncic and 27 from James.
The back-and-forth contest ended with the sixth-seeded Timberwolves taking Game 4 116-113 and taking a 3-1 lead against the third-seeded Lakers in their NBA Western Conference first-round playoff series.
Edwards’ two free throws with 10.7 seconds remaining – after Minnesota challenged a call and won, putting Edwards on the line – put the Timberwolves up 116-113, and Lakers guard Austin Reaves missed a 3-pointer to end the game.
Just 13 teams have come back from a 3-1 deficit, and it hasn’t happened since 2020 when Denver did it twice. The Lakers’ attempt to extend the series starts with Game 5 Wednesday in Los Angeles (10 p.m. ET, TNT).
Anthony Edwards’ star continues to rise and shine
For all the talk about the next “face of the NBA,” Edwards meets the requirement. He’s an elite talent. At the 2024 Paris Olympics, U.S. men’s basketball and Golden State coach Steve Kerr said, “As he continues to learn how to use (his talent) and be efficient in his play, he will be unguardable.”
He possesses the charismatic smile, the confidence and the humor. He’s in commercials (and yes, it would be nice if he limited his fines from the league office.)
Edwards put together one of his finest playoff performances, scoring a game-high 43 points on 12-for-23 shooting, including 5-for-10 on 3-pointers and 14-for-17 on free throws, and adding nine rebounds and six assists.
The talent and efficiency that Kerr mentioned was all there in Game 4. Edwards had 16 points, four rebounds, two assists and one block in the fourth quarter as the Timberwolves eliminated a 10-point deficit to start the fourth.
“You could see it in his eyes that he was going to bring it home,” Minnesota coach Chris Finch told reporters.
Lakers’ roster flaws exposed
Lakers coach JJ Redick mentioned the lack of rim protection after losing Game 3. Starting center Jaxson Hayes played just four minutes as the Lakers’ lack of versatility was exposed in Game 4.
It was Los Angeles’ best offensive game of the series (40% on 19 made 3-pointers and stellar production from James and Doncic). Yet, it wasn’t enough even though Rui Hachimura scored 23 points and Reaves added 17.
Take away shooting stats from James and Doncic, the Lakers were just 18-for-43 from the field (41.9%). Four Lakers played at least 40 minutes, including 46 minutes, 14 seconds from James and 45 minutes, 49 seconds from Doncic. The Lakers simply can’t go many minutes without either one on the court.
Minnesota’s bench outscored Los Angeles’ 25-6, and Dorian Finney-Smith, who played 41 minutes, was the only Lakers reserve to score.
Saving the coach’s challenge for the right time
Finch could’ve used his coach’s challenge long before 10 seconds remained in the fourth quarter. But he saved it. Saved it for just the right time.
With the Timberwolves leading 114-113 and in possession of the basketball, Edwards drove toward the rim. James swatted at the basketball, and it went out of bounds off of Edwards – Lakers ball, the refs ruled.
However, Finch still had his challenge available, and he used it, knowing that under review, the referees could call a foul on James. That’s what happened, sending Edwards to the free throw line for two foul shots, which he made.
Finch used his coach’s challenge 74 times this season and was successful 46 times (62.2% rate) – in the middle of the pack. A coach gets one challenge, and if they get that correct, they get one more in a game.
Each team has a behind-the-bench assistant coach who helps the head coach determine if a challenge should be made. For the Timberwolves, that’s Jeff Newton who has worked in the NBA for the past 12 seasons and had a stint as a head coach in the G League.
Finch and Newton made it work at the right time.